Korean Job Discussion Forums

Wisconsinite · Joined: 05 Jan 2007

I just finished my masters(from a Uni in America) and am thinking of doing a PhD. My question is: Has anyone attended graduate school in a Korean university? What are the Korean language requirements (I would be doing a doctorate in English language education and doing it in Korea would be a good thing since my focus would be on Korean students learning English)? What was it like to apply (lots of ridiculous documents)? What are the courses like? Professors? Basically any information you could give me would be great.

Juregen · Joined: 30 May 2006

I haven't met anyone yet that is not from Korea doing a PhD in Korea.

Koreans themselves prefer to get a PhD outside, since it is worth more then the local one.

You can do Korean studies in any other country, no (we even have on in Belgium)?

If you are going to do a PhD jsut make contact with the respective departments and they can help you with all necessary information

VirginIslander · Joined: 24 May 2006 Location: Busan

I met a Canadian this week who is in an Ecology PHD program at Pusan National University. Having lived and taught here for many years, he speaks Korean very well, but forturnately his classes are in English. Also, his advisor earned his PHD at Purdue, which is a big plus!

There was a thread earlier this week about scholarships for foreigners who want to puruse masters and PHD's. The benefits were excellent, inlcuding 50% tuition waiver, a free year of Korean lessons, a roud trip ticket and a monhtly living allowance.

You will have to search throught the forum for more details but the thread is less than a week old.

If your disseration will be on Koreans and English acquisition, I would have to say there is no better place to study.

skdragon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003

Particulalry with English Ed as a specialization, most of the K profs will have a doctorate from an OS school (likely in the US). Most courses, even if they are in Korean, could be easily tailored for you and offered in English (even though they may officially be in Korean). From what I have heard the profs and other students (Koreans) in the classes welcome the ability to use English. Good luck to you!

Zyzyfer · Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 8:41 pm Post subject:

OiGirl · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Location: Hoke-y-gun

There are Chinese (Korean- and "pure" Chinese doing PhDs at my university. One day there may be an American! Laughing

Wisconsinite · Joined: 05 Jan 2007

Thanks! Those links were very helpful. I am working for another year here in the states at my job but I am definently thinking about PhD and since my passion is English acquisition for Korean students and my dream is to work with the Education ministry to change the way English is taught in the public schools in Korea I thought a PhD from a Korean university would be a great place to start.

Now, what about working? What is the official word? Can you work on a student visa or not? 850,000 won (I will have savings) is not that much to live on but I could do it if I had to but having another source of income would be good.

VirginIslander · Joined: 24 May 2006 Location: Busan

Marry a Korean and live off your privates while you study. 10 hours of privates-$300-$500- a week should be more than enough to support yourself and your new bride.

OiGirl · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Location: Hoke-y-gun

At my university, courses in the English department are either a) taught in English or b) taught in Korean using English textbooks. Doable for a monolingual English speaker in either case.

blynch · Joined: 25 Oct 2006 Location: UCLA

Wisconsinite · Joined: 05 Jan 2007

kimchikowboy · Joined: 24 Jan 2003

I just finished my masters (from a Uni in America) and am thinking of doing a PhD.
Congrats.

My question is: Has anyone attended graduate school in a Korean university?
I'm in the third year of a management-related Ph.D. program here.

What are the Korean language requirements?
Courses are in English, but the selection is slim. I'm allowed to take up to 3 classes per semester, but this semester there were only two offered. So I'm taking an additional one as an independent study. Korean profs are good about allowing one to do that. Other students in the program are Chinese (mostly masters level) and they take courses in Korean.

What was it like to apply (lots of ridiculous documents)?
There are office assistants who can do everything for you.

What are the courses like?
Some are ridiculous. One the other hand, I don't have time to dedicate what is usually required from upper level courses, so it is a trade-off. I work full time (so in answer to your other question, you can go to school on a work visa. I don't know about working on a student visa. So you may try to get a job at the uni you want to attend, or at least a uni in the same city). In Britain, Ph.D. courses do not require classes, only research. So there is an argument to be made that the classes are superfluous. Some are sure to chime in that a Korean Ph.D. does not hold the same weight overseas. Yes, but if you like research and can publish in top journals (and the program is to teach you how to do research, not course content), I think this is offset. More on that later.

Professors?
All of them studied in the U.S. or England. Lots of cancelled classes, and some don't seem to want to teach in English, or seem to be a bit ashamed of their levels. It can vary, though, I am sure. I am not taking classes in Seoul, so that may be different.

Basically any information you could give me would be great.

Some additional considerations: Where are your fellow students from? If they don't speak English as their first language (and in most places they will probably be Asians), then the courses might be considerably less rigorous than what you would normally expect. They simply can�t do the reading (though the Chinese seem to be very sharp, and extremely hard workers. There have also been Fillipinos, and Indian and a Russian in the classes).
You may have a hard time finding materials in English to do research.
I think it boils down to what you want to do with the degree. If you want to teach in the U.S. or another country, get the degree there. However, I�m married and own an apartment here. I like Korea and plan to stay here for the foreseeable future. I�m doing the Ph.D. for advancement at my current place of employment. Right now, Korean unis are pushing to offer classes in English to counter the rush of students to foreign countries. To do content courses, they want native English-speaking Ph.D. holders, and those are hard to attract (despite/because of salaries ranging from the 40s to the 60s). So there is a growing demand, and if you have the degree from here, you have a foot in the door as you have already proven that you can adapt to the culture (one of the key worries I have heard from Korean profs about hiring foreigners). So, basically, if you were to get your Ph.D. here, it would be most advantageous if your intentions were to stay here. As you don�t mention if you have been here before, perhaps it is advisable if you try working here for a while before taking the plunge. If you can get some top publications, you can head to other pastures. If you learn Korean, can publish, and have a Ph.D., it seems like a license to print money. Everyone will want to co-author with you (and most can do the legwork/stats while you do the writing).
Koreans understand many of the failings of the higher education system here. Part of getting higher international rankings for unis involves having foreign profs (with Ph.D.s). They are also trying to get foreign students here, so there is a push to attract foreign westerners because that adds status to programs. (Actually, I know of a full-tuition scholarship to a new all-English MBA program for any native English speaker if anyone is interested). There are more opportunities for foreigners who want to study, but you are not spoon-fed and may have to do a lot of the learning yourself. For higher-level degrees, this is the way in many regards in the U.S. as well.
But that is my experience. That of others may differ. Good luck, and PM me if you have additional questions.

Wisconsinite · Joined: 05 Jan 2007

Now that was the information I was looking for. I will keep you in mind later to PM.

I have lived in Korea before, 4 years actually. Did my masters at the University of Wisconsin in education and ESL. I am currently teaching but will do one more year for experience and money and go for my PhD. My ultimate goal is to focus on research on Koreans learnign English and to get involved at the governmental level in changing English education in Korea. I feel that it is at a cross roads and needs major revamping in order to stop the crowds of students leaving to study and to create a world class English speaking community. My research would be in that and I would love to live in Korea.

It's interesting: I have been questioning what to do over and over again for the last few months and never had a clear answer. I decided to think about pursuing this idea and it is like everything is starting to come together, like it's the right path. I am sure I will have more questions in the future but some of you have given me so much to go on.

I will visit propspective universities this summer to get a more clear idea of what I need to do and how to get there.